Apparatus and method for attaching an RF tag to a sponge item

Abstract

The subject matter discloses a method of attaching a tag to a disposable item such as a sponge, the method comprising obtaining a tag and a disposable item; attaching the tag to the disposable item using an adhesive material. The adhesive material is cured by ultraviolet radiation. The method also comprises applying the ultraviolet radiation on the tag attached on the disposable item. The tag may be an RE tag.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of attaching a tag to a disposable item to track the disposable item, the method comprising:
 obtaining a tag; 
 obtaining a disposable item to be tracked by the tag; 
 placing the disposable item on a working plate in the form of a conveyer belt; 
 conveying the disposable item to an attachment point; 
 determining a location on the disposable item onto which the tag is released from a maneuvering mechanism for attaching to the disposable item depending on the type of disposable item; 
 attaching the tag to the disposable item using an adhesive material; 
 applying a pre-determined amount of ultraviolet radiation for a specific duration on the tag attached on the disposable item to cure the adhesive material with the ultraviolet radiation as it passes by an ultraviolet emitting device; 
 wherein the pre-determined amount is selected depending on the type of adhesive material; 
 packing one or more of the disposable items into a package; and 
 counting the number of tags in the package with a tag reader to verify the number of disposable items in the package. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprises a step of folding the disposable item. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive material, is attached to more than one layer of the folded disposable item. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the ultraviolet radiation cures the adhesive material in more than one layer of the folded disposable item. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of attaching is performed before folding the disposable item. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the tag is an RF tag. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive material is attached to the tag before the tag is attached to the disposable item. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive material is attached to the disposable item before the tag is attached to the disposable item. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a step of maneuvering the tag, from a tag storage to the working plate on which the disposable item is mounted. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive material is an UV curable adhesive. 
     
     
       11. A system for attaching a tag to a disposable item, the system comprising:
 a tag storage for storing tags; 
 a disposable storage adapted to store disposable items; 
 a maneuvering mechanism adapted to maneuver tags towards the disposable items; wherein the maneuvering mechanism includes a control unit for determining a location on the disposable item onto which the tag is released from the maneuvering mechanism depending on the type of disposable item; 
 an adhesive material storage unit adapted to provide adhesive material for attaching the tag and the disposable item for tracking the disposable item with the tag; 
 an ultraviolet radiation module adapted to apply a pre-determined amount of ultraviolet radiation for a specific duration on the tag attached to the disposable item as it passes by the ultraviolet radiation module; 
 wherein the pre-determined amount of ultraviolet radiation is selected depending on the type of adhesive material so that it cures the adhesive material; and 
 wherein the system packs one or more of the disposable items into a package and counts the number of tags in the package with a tag reader to verify the number of disposable items in the package. 
 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the maneuvering mechanism maneuvers the tag to the adhesive material storage unit before mounting the tag on the disposable item.